lizshayne's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
This was a surprisingly slow building mystery novel...which is not usually what I've been trained to think I'm getting when two dudes with swords stand back to back on the cover.
It mostly worked for me and I think most of my problems were getting my brain back into a different generation of fantasy novels.
It's weird to think about style as a feature of contemporary (ish) books, but this book felt very 90s in a way that took a while for me to get back into.
Still fun, still gonna read the rest of them eventually.
It mostly worked for me and I think most of my problems were getting my brain back into a different generation of fantasy novels.
It's weird to think about style as a feature of contemporary (ish) books, but this book felt very 90s in a way that took a while for me to get back into.
Still fun, still gonna read the rest of them eventually.
emmascc's review against another edition
5.0
Actual rating: 4.5 stars
Is there anything better than fantasy mysteries? This was an excellent read and I'm really looking forward to the rest of the series.
Is there anything better than fantasy mysteries? This was an excellent read and I'm really looking forward to the rest of the series.
echo123's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
hexe_19's review
adventurous
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Kidnapping
Minor: Rape, Violence, and Death
wunder's review against another edition
4.0
This has a measured pace and it pauses to describe things, something that could be really annoying, but it somehow matches the main character. Nico Rathe is a pointsman (policeman) who is observant and thinks before he acts. The other characters are nicely drawn, too. The mystery is intriguing and actually mysterious. And ... they get to call in the cavalry at the end.
I'm reading the next one immediately.
I'm reading the next one immediately.
bookcraft's review against another edition
3.0
The characters and story were enough to keep me reading through the occasional patches of head-hopping/sloppy POV and despite the overabundance of epithets. Fascinating world, interesting characters, and just enough spark between Nico and Philip that I really want to see what happens in the next installment.
I read the Scribd version (subscription plan), which had some minor formatting issues and a couple of typos, but was mostly clean and readable.
I read the Scribd version (subscription plan), which had some minor formatting issues and a couple of typos, but was mostly clean and readable.
snazel's review against another edition
5.0
I am a sucker for intricately wrought world building that is intrinsic to the plot of a fantasy murder mystery, let me TELL YOU.
bec_ourcolourfulpages's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.5